Kaira Rouda is truly an underrated author! She delivers consistently twisty, fast paced, fun reads and The Second Mrs. Strom was no exception - this was a great, bingeable read.

What a good book. Loved the quick pace and it kept me wanting to keep listening. Lots of good twists. Wish I had known this was a sequel (that is also a standalone)...I'll definitely be checking out the first book!
The narrators were great!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Paul inherits a fortune from his first wife, an elderly woman that he dated for a year. He met his new wife at the funeral for her and they began their whirlwind romance and quickly wed. But Paul is keeping many secrets from his new wife and he suspects that she has a few of her own.
They make it to their first anniversary and decide to celebrate with a trip to Paris to enjoy the best the city has to offer, topping it off with an elegant dinner at the Eiffel Tower with neither of them knowing that the other has plans for how the night is going to end.
The story takes place over the course of the day and from the POV of both Paul and Cecilia but both characters are quite vile and hard to root for, but such as the author intended I believe.
I was able to listen to the audiobook and read the ebook and while I enjoyed that experience, I have to say that the male narrator was much better than the female.

"The Second Mrs. Strom" is a riveting psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. This was my first read by Kaira Rouda, and I am absolutely blown away by her ability to weave a tale of suspense, deceit, and revenge. The narrative unfolds with impeccable pacing, revealing just enough at each turn to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Rouda masterfully portrays the protagonist’s journey from being a "struggling nobody" to a woman determined to seek revenge, all set against the luxurious backdrop of Paris. The complexities of the characters and the unexpected twists make this book impossible to put down. The protagonist’s internal conflict and her plan for retribution are brilliantly crafted, making you question who the real villain is. If you love psychological thrillers with deep, intricate plots and strong, complex characters, "The Second Mrs. Strom" is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended for fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose!

Side note.... Fabulous narrators.

***Thank you NetGalley and Kaira Rouda for the ARC read***
All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone

The Second Mrs. Strom By Kaira Rouda

A Slow Burn with a Satisfying Payoff

If you're a fan of The Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom is a must-read. This sequel delves deeper into Paul's story, offering a slow-paced yet rewarding exploration of his character and the world around him.

The first quarter shines with its well-developed characters and immersive world-building, reminiscent of its predecessor. While the story initially unfolds at a leisurely pace, the payoff is well worth the wait. The explosive ending delivers a thrilling conclusion that will leave readers feeling the closure they've been seeking.

If you're seeking answers and resolution after the Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom is your ticket.

**Key Points:**

* Sequel to "The Best Day Ever"
* Slow-paced start with strong character development
* Explosive and satisfying ending
* Recommended for fans of the first book seeking closure

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for hooking me up with both the e-arc and the audio arc for review 🙏

#qotd Have you ever been to Paris?

#thesecondmrsstrom #kairarouda #bookreviews #thrillerbooklover #thepulse

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC audiobook through #netgalley. I had not previously read The Best Day Ever which I will do doing in the near future! Paul's character was written so well. He was so controlling and infuriating. If you like to read thrillers with plot twist, I recommend this one.

Oh man, Paul is back!! And we love to hate him. His new wife Cecelia is as annoying as he is, but in different ways. There is so much passive-aggressive behavior in this, I wanted to scream. Yet the amount of dislike I had for these characters drove me further into this tale to find out just how destructive they could be toward each other. Lots of mind games are underway here and the suspense is so fun! Great story line!

The narrators did an excellent job, so much so that I feel if I were to hear the male narrator's voice, I would stay far away!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! Y'all are the best!

The book was surprising, delicious and the ending was totally shocking. While I didn't mind the second Mrs. Storm, I absolutely couldn't stand her husband. He was hateful, rude, smarmy, a liar and just a terrible person. Once Mrs. Storm figured out what he was up to, the story picked up and I was shocked by what was going on but I did have an inkling as to what was happening. I don't want to give it away so I am not spelling anything out here. Mrs. Storm was smart and cunning and could totally give him a ride for his money.
At first I was a little confused by the multiple points of view until I figured out that the other woman was the mistress. That really changed things and gave the husband a run for his money. I just kept thinking that how in the world did this nice woman like Mrs. Storms husband but clearly she was clueless as to what a despicable person he was.
The ending was great and I was shocked.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.5 stars
OMG 😲 😱
From the beginning of the book i got some theories of what's truly going on but even though I was right about the night that all happened there were some many plot twist that my head was spinning 😳 The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I was expecting an even stronger ending, something that could make my jaw drop but nevertheless I have no words for the Fmc (powerful -an idol -fighter) and as for the male character......I couldn't hate that guy more !!!
I hope Kaira Rouda will write more books because this one was impressive i want read more of her work !!!!



Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion 😀

Paul is back and he’s as horrible as ever! This narcissistic sociopath certainly is fun, but he’s met his match. You could read this as a standalone, but I’d recommend reading Best Day Ever first. The audiobook with Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard narrating is entertaining.

Thank you to the cool kids @thrillerbookloversthepulse for bringing this series to my attention and providing me an ALC. Do we think Paul may be back for season 3?

Kaira Rouda knows how to write a character that you’ll love to hate. This book is a sequel to Best Day Ever, which is also worth the read, but can also be read as a standalone novel. A little suspense, a little mystery, and a lot of drama.

Paul Strom, the self-styled Adonis of arrogance, returns in The Second Mrs. Strom. This psychological thriller, a cunning sequel to Best Day Ever, is a standalone masterpiece that will leave you breathless.

A master manipulator basking in the gilded cage of his own delusions, Strom is a predator disguised as prey. As he navigates the Parisian labyrinth with his newly acquired trophy wife, a sinister undercurrent churns beneath the veneer of luxury.

With a narrative that shifts perspectives like a kaleidoscope, this novel is a mind-bending exploration of obsession, deceit, and the fragility of perception. Prepare to be ensnared in a web of meticulously crafted suspense as the lines between reality and illusion blur. The twists are as unexpected as they are devastating. A literary cocktail of champagne and cyanide, The Second Mrs. Strom is not for the faint of heart.

I really liked The Second Mrs. Strom, by Kaira Rouda it's a marvelous story. I wasn't aware this was the second book in a series, because I enjoyed it as a standalone. However, now that I know this I can't wait to get my hands on the first book! Also the voice actors did a terrific job bringing the story to life. I highly recommend this audio book.

The Second Mrs. Strom is the second book in the series that follows Paul Strom, narcissist extraordinaire! While this book is a continuation of the storyline from “Best Day Ever”, the story can easily be read as a standalone without it affecting the reader’s understanding.

Paul Strom is God’s gift to women- or so he believes. Pursuing younger women, Paul likes to present himself as an established man, self sufficient, rich. In this book, he’s attained his long-desired status and with a new love in his cross hairs.

In this dual timeline, dual POV story, Mr. Strom is spending a week in Paris with his new wife. Up to the same old shenanigans, he is also coming to the realization that not all is as it appears. I DID NOT see the twist coming. Let me repeat, I DID NOT see that twist coming. Is one or two of the “twists” obvious? Yes. But was it just a genius distraction from the truth?! PROBABLY!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced listeners copy in return for an honest review!

Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, Bookouture, #partner, for an advanced e- copy and ALC of The Second Mrs. Strom in exchange for my honest review.

We over at The Pulse – @thrillerbookloversthepulse – have been giddy with excitement over this latest book by Kaira Rouda. Our favorite villain is back and we have been talking about him nonstop! If you loved Best Day Ever, you definitely want to grab this one when it hits shelves on August 16…and if you somehow missed that one – read it now so you are ready for this one!!! ⁣
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Paul is one of my favorite characters of the characters Kaira Rouda has written, so I was thrilled to see that he was back in another story!!! And what a story we are given here in The Second Mrs. Strom. Not only is Paul, our favorite narcissistic sociopath back, but he has a new wife and it turns out she’s got a few secrets of her own. And I loved that this time, not only do we get Paul’s POV, but also Cecilia’s. He truly might have met his match this time around!⁣
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With the stakes in this domestic suspense raised, I found myself completely captivated. This quickly became a battle of epic mind games and it was so cleverly plotted. I’m always a fan of unlikeable characters but this book takes it to new levels! Such a fun, twisty read and I sure hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of Paul…he really is one of my favorite characters ever!⁣

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Audio thoughts: This was such a binge-worthy book to listen to and the 2 narrators, Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard, did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Once I started listening, I did not want to put this one down and ended up listening to it in one go!

4.5/5 (rounded up)

This was such a fun listen. Paul is absolutely nuts! This story follow Paul, and his second wife Cecelia for their one year anniversary. Paul takes Cecelia to Paris to celebrate, and while there, Cecelia isn’t acting like herself, and Paul can’t stand it. I definitely recommend it.

This was good. Loved the Paris setting and dual perspectives. I didn't find any of the twists shocking but this book is well-paced and engaging. A fun, easy read. Perfect for the beach!

3.7 rounded up to 4.

This was *chefs 💋. If you are looking for a book that makes you forget the world around you exists, this is it. I was gripped from the beginning. Kaira Rouda has loaded this story with maybe murder, attempted murder, enough suspicion to go around, lies and deceit and so much of it set in beautiful places.

I hated Mr strom. He’s incredibly unlikable. He’s getting the cold shoulder from his wife. They are on their anniversary trip to Paris and it’s not playing out the romantic way he expected. It’s their final night together then they will return home. But nothing is going right.

Mrs strom wasn’t always Mrs strom. A year before she was barely scraping by. She created art that wasn’t selling. She lived in an apartment so small that the biggest (and arguably the only) draw was the zip code. Her life in the foster care system set the stage for her financial struggles.

The timeline has been thrown into a blender and what we get is a series of mixed up bits of their story that reveal how the duo end up in the exclusive restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, sick and miserable.

Rouda is up there with Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose for sure! The audiobook was fantastic. It brought the characters to life and really brought home how likable/unlikable the characters were.

Thank you to @kairarouda , @netgalley @bookouture Laurence Bovard & Nick Landrum for providing this ARC for an honest review. It was a great read and I’m excited for others to pick it up.

Excellent first read by Kaira Rouda. A dreamy vacation in Paris quickly starts unraveling the relationship of the two main characters. A book full of twists and turns to the very end. Rouda supplied readers with just enough thrill and suspense to keep you guessing without being overly graphic which I appreciate.

Thank you to Kiara Rouda, Netgalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for the ARC/ALC.

When my friends at the Pulse were raving about this book, and I saw it had a prequel (called “The Best Day Ever”), I did the only reasonable thing and read both books! And I am SO glad I did, Kiara Rouda NEVER disappoints with her books. While “The Second Mrs. Strom” can be read as a standalone, I think it’s more fun to read the first book beforehand (possibly back-to-back like I did!) In this book, Paul Strom is still up to usual ways, now rich after an elderly friend passed away and left him her fortune. But this time, he may have met his match in Cecilia - the beautiful, smart young woman he quickly marries. With a fast pace and characters that you love to hate, “The Second Mrs. Strom” was a fun ride. Without giving any spoilers, I am SO hopeful that there will be another installment because I need more!

Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard voiced these characters to perfection on audio! “The Second Mrs. Strom” releases August 16, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)